(SFC) Almaty 2022 has plans to change how the Olympic Winter
Games are hosted and planned. Thus, ensuring a lasting and genuine Olympic Legacy for not only Almaty
but for the region. They hope to encourage
cities to bid for future Games. The city of Almaty is known for their long tradition of
winter sports. It began in the 1950's when Almaty was the heart of outdoor
winter sports activities. Then two decades ago, after becoming an independent country,
the city continued to improve the number one winter sports center in Eurasia.

The city has continued to grow and flourish as an actual winter sports city and among the best tourist destinations in Eurasia. Their
growth is directly tied to the region's long-term goals and is a fundamental element in the planning of the
2022 Winter Olympic Games.

A brand new Winter
Games model that is focused on the
athletes

Almaty 2022 has come up with a concept that has been one of
the most compact in more than 30 years. Every venue is within a radius of
30-kilometers of the Olympic Village. This
allows for an unprecedented convenience for the athletes, relevant stakeholders, spectators, and the
Olympic Family.

Real Winter Sports
Venues

Almaty already has 70% of the venues necessary for the Games, and those sites are currently being utilized for winter sports. Since 2000,
the city has added six top-tier venues to its collection of competition venues
and world-class ski resorts. Due to the city hosting the 2017 Winter
Universiade, 80% of the necessary sites
will exist by 2017.

Minister of Culture and Sport
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Arystanbek Mukhamediuly stated, "Almaty's bid
for the Winter Games is driven by our people's passion for winter sports and is
well aligned with our long-term sports infrastructure plan. Almaty will
only need two additional competition venues for the Games. Rising demand from
the city and region makes the addition of these venues
a natural continuation of our strategic plan. Hosting the Winter Games will
further the development of winter sports in Kazakhstan and the Central Asian
region."

Hosting Experience

The venues have hosted
various major winter sports events such as the 2015 International Ski
Federation (FIS) Junior Nordic World Championships Under 23, 2011 Asian Winter
Games, the 2014 World University Speed Skating Championship, the 2015
International Skating Union (ISU) World Sprint Skating Championships, the 2012
& 2013 FIS Nordic Combined World Cups, the 2010-2012 FIS Ski Jumping
Continental Cups, and the 2010-2014 FIS Ski Jumping Grand Prix.

With the successful hosting of such international
competitions, Almaty has shown how competent and trustworthy they are as a host
city. Almaty has benefited from a vast wealth of experienced and friendly
volunteers and event professionals, along with in-depth sports and technical
expertise.

Real sustainability means an eco-friendly
Winter Games

In addition, Almaty 2022's
plan is one of the most sustainable and greenest methods brought to the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the last 30 years due to its use of
existing venues and little construction needs. The city will only have
to build the Sliding Center and the Almaty Olympic Arena if chosen to host the 2022 Games large-scale transportation
projects will not be needed to reach the mountain venues. The sensitive mountain ecosystems will not be
affected by the construction the venues.

2022 Winter Games
deserve real winter weather

Almaty has the ideal competitive conditions and winter
climate for hosting a Winter Olympic Games. The city has plenty of water and
snow for such a large-scale event. The mountain venues average around 120-150
cm of natural, fresh snow coverage during the Games proposed time periods. The
annual accumulation of snowfall adds up to roughly eight meters. Any man-made
snow requirements will be met with ease
by using the city's vast mountain rivers and lakes
while having no impact on the region's existing water needs.

"Our sensible, affordable and sustainable Games Plan is
based on real venues, real winter sports hosting experience and real snow and
winter ambiance. Almaty can prove that a
nation doesn't need to be a superpower or spend tens of billions of dollars to
host a Winter Games. Consistent with the goals of IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020
reforms, Almaty 2022's planning for the Winter Games utilizes our existing
resources and is directly linked to our
city's long-term goals. Rather than changing our city to fit the Games, we
adapted the Games plan to fit our city's
needs. This is real change of the Winter Games and exactly what we mean by
'Keeping it Real,'" expressed Vice-Chairman of Almaty 2022 Bid, Andrey Kryukov.

Friendly and Cozy
Winter Games

Not to mention, Kazakhstan is one of the most diverse and
open countries with over 40 religious denominations and 100 ethnicities living peacefully
together. The city offers a wide variety of entertainment and dining options to
visitors of all ethnicities and ages. Almaty has a population that is 40% under
the age of 24.

Lastly, Almaty 2022's budget is a prudent one and guarantees
the full backing of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Their OCOG
budget is 1.7 billion USD, and their
Non-OCOG budget is 4.5 billion USD, which reflects the bid plan's sensible and
moderate spending costs. Furthermore, the region's economy is sound and stable.
Created in 200 as a stabilization fund, the Kazakhstan National Fund has a
current balance of 75 billion USD and continues to grow. The Games has some "cash
in the bank," to say the least.

Mayor of Almaty city, Akhmetzhan Yessimov commented, "Almaty is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city full
of young and passionate winter sport
enthusiasts who passionately want to bring the Games to our city. Almaty
2022 is fully supported by our Government, and we have the financial
strength necessary to deliver a great Games experience for the athletes and
participants. To be ready for 2022, Almaty has
been investing in winter sports facilities and experience for over a decade,
and on 31 July we hope to earn the opportunity to showcase to the world the
tremendous progress our country has made."

** MARISSA FLANDERS is a graduate of Saint Leo University with a
Bachelor's Degree in Sport Business. She has over four years of writing
experience and has a real passion for ice hockey following the Pittsburgh
Penguins on her blog www.thepenshockeyshow.com.

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